Deze opleiding

In the research-oriented master's specialisation Systems Pharmacology you will focus on personalised medicine and novel systems-based approaches in translational and clinical pharmacology.

The master's specialisation Systems Pharmacology offers you a unique combination of cutting-edge experimental training in the field of metabolomics and translational systems biology and quantitative pharmacology education.

Traditionally, medical treatments and drugs were designed for an "average patient". Nowadays it has become clear that the differences between individuals, their genes, environments and lifestyles should be taken into account. This calls for a thorough understanding of diseases, at the system-level, allowing prediction of the modulation of disease networks by drugs in cells, organs, and the body as a whole. To achieve this, the programme of this master's specialisation focuses on education on the development of novel bioanalytical concepts and innovative analytical tools for metabolomics-driven systems biology and design of theoretical modelling frameworks for drug development and individualized therapies.

You should choose the Systems Pharmacology programme when you want to participate in one of the highly relevant research topics at the moment to the society.

onderwijsvormen

instruction modes

Planning and designing your own study path provides you with essential skills for your future career. When you need advice, our dedicated study advisor for the master's programme is the person to go to. The study advisor can provide professional help with the study programme and planning, but is also available for guidance in case of personal circumstances that may affect study progress.

study abroad

Drug researchers inherently operate internationally. Therefore, BPS students are strongly stimulated to go abroad for their second research project to gain international work experience. International experience is not only important to start building an international network but it will also increase the career prospects and chances in the job market.

objectives

Systems Pharmacology consists of 120 European Credit Transfer System (EC) points divided over research projects and courses.

You will start with the Introduction Course Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences with specialisation in Systems Pharmacology. The major compulsory components are two research projects, both of which include writing a Master's thesis. You can choose your own research projects. The major research project must be in one of the research themes of the LACDR research cluster Systems Pharmacology. The minor research project is preferably conducted in a different discipline of Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences (BPS). For the second research project you are advised to go abroad to gain international experience.

Other compulsory components are: a literature study, including the writing of an essay or thesis, attending one advanced lecture series in a discipline of BPS, attending the Scientific Conduct course, and attending twenty lectures or colloquia presented by other Master's students in BPS. For the optional component, Master's students can choose from additional courses or work placements.

honours-/excellence program Leiden Leadership Programme

Do you like a personal challenge in leadership? Then join the Leiden Leadership Program.

In the one-year Leiden Leadership Program, you work on developing your personal leadership skills through an assessment, training, seminars and a practice assignment in an organisation. You discover and develop your qualities in the context of an organisation. The goal is to learn how to work intensively with other professionals and learn how to use their qualities. With the Leiden Leadership Programme, a Dutch-based honours programme, you will be able to follow 20 EC next to your Leiden, The Hague or Delft master's programme.

Na de studie

Beroepsperspectief / arbeidsmarkt

Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences students are broadly educated. The combination of expertise in drug research and academic skills makes them attractive for employers, irrespective of the chosen specialisation. One finds graduates from Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences in the entire width of the (bio)pharmaceutical field.

Their careers generally remain closely related to the field of drug discovery and design, or the development and production of drugs, including drug quality, safety and clinical trials. Jobs outside research include various functions in the pharmaceutical industry, in biotechnology companies, or with the government.

Many graduates from Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences choose a career in scientific research and pursue a PhD degree, an option that is also open to Industrial Pharmacy graduates. After obtaining your PhD degree, you can continue as a postdoctoral fellow and subsequently, via a tenure track position at university, develop further to assistant-, associate-, or full professor.

Overall, about 59% of the graduates in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences rapidly find a position (predominantly PhD positions) at Universities, University Medical Centres or Research Institutes, while 29% get employed by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Additionally, our students seek jobs in eg food or cosmetics industry (3%), start their own company or work as freelancer (2%), get employed as teacher or in science communication (2%), or continue schooling (2%).